Former Delaware prosecutor disbarred after child rape

 Daniel Simmons resigned his position in the AG's office after being arrested on charges of rape. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Daniel Simmons resigned his position in the AG's office after being arrested on charges of rape. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The Delaware Supreme Court has disbarred a former deputy attorney general who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy.

The court issued an order Wednesday disbarring Daniel G. Simmons, who consented to the action.

 

Simmons pleaded guilty in March to one count of fourth-degree rape. He faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on June 16 and must register as a sex offender. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped three other counts of fourth-degree rape against Simmons, who worked in the Justice Department’s misdemeanor trial unit.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Police said Simmons, a college student and the boy had sex last year in an encounter arranged through the social media app called Grindr.

The college student, Matthew T. Coogan, is awaiting trial in July on charges of sexual solicitation and conspiracy.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal